Engine starting system



Oct, 19, 1948. HEINTZ 7 2,452,027

ENGINE STARTING SYSTEM Original Filed Sept. 24, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ll ljl mgmb IN V EN TOR.

Oct. 19, 1948. R. M. HEINTZ ENGINE STARTING SYSTEM 3 SheetsShee-g 2 Original Filed Sept. 24, 1942 INVENTOR. R/IZ PH [1 HE/N 72 Oct. 19, 1948. Tz 2,452,027

ENGINE STARTING SYSTEM Original Filed Sept. 24, '1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Oct. 19, 1948 UNITED STATES OFFICE ENGINE STARTING SYSTEM Ralph M. Heintz, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor, b'ymesne assignments, to J ack1& 'Heintz Precision: Industries, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Original application September 24, 1942, Serial No. 459,566. Divided andthis application tober 13, 1943; Serial No. 506,023

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an inertia starting system for internal combustion engines, and particularly the engines of vehicles such as airplanes also possesses inherent disadvantages rendering it unsuitable for use on some engines. In some installations space limitations prohibit the addition of a, large starter unit on the engine, due to proximity oia bulkhead or-fire wall, or to the presence of a multiplicity ofaccessories on the rear of theengine. Further, even though there issuflicient space it is still desirable to avoid subjecting the electricstarting motor to the engine. vibration, notwithstanding the tendency in the.

prior art to disregard this consideration.

It is therefore the object of .the present invention to separate the components of the starting system so that arelatively smallerunitmay be mounted directly on. the engine and so that the electric starting motor may be mounted. on the airplane or vehicle where the vibration is less severe than on the engine.

A particular object is to provide an improved engine starting system having only those components driven by the inertia flywheel mounted directly on the engine, the flywheel energizing means being separately mounted on the vehicle.

A further object is to provide an engine starting system having an inertiastarter mounted On the engine, having an electric motor. for. energizing the inertia member of said starter mounted in the engine compartment. and connected with the starter by a flexible shaft, andhaving a hand crank receiving unit acce'ssibleexteriorly of said compartment and connected with said motor by. a flexible shaft todrive said inertia member.

Additional and more specific objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanyingdrawings showing by way, of example a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the starting system of the present invention, showing the' functional; relationl of the various unitsthereof;

Figure '2 is a perspective view'of the starting system showing; its physical disposition in an i application to an airplane-orlikevehicle;

Figure 3 is a top plan View of a portion of the engine compartment shown in Figure'2;

Figure 4 isa' cross sectional view-taken on the line li -4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is awning-diagram showing theenergizing circuits for the starting motor and the.

jaw meshing solenoid;

Figure 6 is a view in perspective .ofthe gear box, or flexible shaft adapter, with its cover removed to show the connectionand gear drive between the hand crank fiexibledrive and the starter-motor shaft.

Referring-first to Figures 1 to 4-, it will be seen that-the'present starting systemcomprises a plu-.-

vrality of separate componentsrconnected by flex- Mounted upon'the internal combustion engine 9 to bestarted is the inertia starting.

ible shafts.

unit ID, the inertia, member thereof being energized by means of the flexible shaft from an electric motor l2. mounted. on some part of the'airplane adjacent theengine, such as the bulkhead or fire wall :l3, for reasons which will later be discussed. A hand crank receivingunit ft is mounted on the airplane .close to the enginecompartment in a position for convenient access totheportablehand crank mechanism l5.- Thehandcrank receivingunit is connected with the motor l2 by the flexible shaft 1 8. The. numeral .ll indicates the. skin. of the fuselage or nacelle of theairplane.

The operating relationofthe units forming the component parts of the starting system is (illustrated schematically in Figure 1 without reference to a particular kind of craft or vehicle, while Figures 2 to 4 illustrate-a preferred'embodiment of the physical disposition of the units and associated control elements in an airplane. The electrical circuits for. the starting 1 motor and jaw meshing solenoid are disclosed in the wiring diagram of Figure 5. The individual units will now be described before proceeding with further discussion of the system as a whole.

Inertia starter unit The starter unit lllis provided with a support-- ing flange I9 adapted to be bolted to the crankcase of the engine .to be started so as to bring an extensible jaw clutch member .20 closely adjacent a similar jaw member .on the engine. The member 20 is splined for rotation with .and longitudinal The motor I2- is preferably;

movement in a rotatable member geared through an overload release clutch 25 to a flywheel 33. The flywheel is accelerated to a high speed by means of a bevel gear 30 on the flexible drive shaft I I, this shaft being attached to an extension 40 on the starter unit by means of a threaded union member M or the like.

The jaw clutch member 20 normally reposes in the retracted position shown in full lines in Figure 1, and to crank the engine this member must be extended to engage the clutch member on the engine. The mechanism for retracting and extending the jaw clutch member 20 includes the push rod 44 which is arranged to be extended by the rocker arm 45 as shown schematically in the wiring diagram in Figure 5. Electrical operation is effected through a bell crank lever 49 actuated by a plunger 50 in a solenoid 5|, the circuit to which is established through the conductor cable 102 leading to a switch 104 in the pilots compartment. Manual operation of the rocker arm 45 is effected by means of the pull cable ll, the disposition of which will be hereinafter referred to in connection with the hand cranking mechanism and in connection with the discussion of the system as a whole.

The starter unit I!) is shown in greater detail in the parent application above referred to, and the jaw meshing mechanism is disclosed in detail and claimed in my copendlng application Serial No. 439,751, filed April 20, 1942 for Jaw meshing mechanism for electric starters, patented November 9, 1943, No. 2,334,003.

Electric motor The motor unit I2 is provided with a base 60 for attachment to any suitable support adjacent the engine and thestarter unit 10, such as, for instance, the bulkhead 13. To allow for the most convenient disposition of the motor in any particular installation the base Ellis secured to a band El encircling the motor housing or frame and adjustable throughout a range of 360 degrees therearound. An axial extension 62 on the end of the motor housing secures one end of the housing of the flexible shaft H, maintaining the flexible shaft in rotative engagement with the end of the motor shaft.

The other end of the motor is adapted to receive another flexible shaft drive for manual I operation by means of hand. cranking enquipment to be presently described. For this purpose a housing extension 63 having a socket 200 adapted to secure the flexible shaft [6 in driving engagement with an overrunning clutch 54 (Figures 4 and 6) which is preferably of the centrifugal type disclosed andclaimed in my copending application Serial No. 434,235, filed March 11, 1942 for Centrifugal clutch patented October 26, 1943, No. 2,333,007, see Figure 1. A spiral bevel gear 2M and aspiral bevel pinion 202 complete thepower connection with the commutator end of the motor shaft, 5 I The clutch member comprises a pair of centrifugal dogs 203 driven by the shaft l5 and adapted to engage internal projections in an encircling clutch member 84 connected with one of said gears when said shaft is driven in the proper direction. If the rotation of said shaft is reversed the dogs will cam themselves over the internal projections without causing it to rotate, andsimilarly when the motor is energized to furnishthe power source the projections ride over the dogs without turning the hand crank shaft 1 6. This construction renders it impossible to crank the inertia flywheel in the wrong Hand crank: mechanism In lieu of energizing the inertia starting member, or flywheel 33, by the electric motor means it, the hand crank mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 15 may be used. The hand crank mechanism comprises essentially a detachable crank handle 90, a detachable gear box 9|, a crank and gear box receiver 94, and the flexible shaft It. The gear ratio of the gear box 9| is preferably approximately :1, causing the shaft 15 to make about eighty revolutions for every revolution of the crank. This turning effort is transmitted through the overrunning clutch 64 to the motor 42 which in turn drives the flywheel 33 through the flexible shaft II. It is intended that the crank and gear box 91 be detachable for stowing in the airplane when not required for use, this equipment being primarily for emerency use only.

The hand crank receiver I4 is preferably welded to a rigid part of the vehicle frame or fuselage 92 by means of struts 93 or the like and is located to present the most convenient access for hand cranking consistent with relatively short flexible shaft connections and the limitations to the curvature thereof. As illustrated in the present embodiment the crank 90 extends on the outside of the fuselage H with the shaft IS on the inside. The crank may obviously be located within the vehicle if the construction and arrangement are suitable. The gear box 9| is supported by an integral tubular shank 94 adapted to fit in a tubular sleeve forming the body of the receiver It. A squared hole in a stub shaft within the said shank 94 is adapted to receive a squared end on the flexible shaft l6, this association of parts being maintained by cooperating pins and bayonet slots on the shank 94 and receiver 14, re.

spectively.

The hand crank mechanism per se constitutes the subject matter of my separate application, Serial No. 431,850, filed February 21, 1942, for Hand crank mechanism, patented June 29, 1943, No. 2,323,135 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

. Controls The controls for the previously described jaw meshing and brush lifting mechanisms are of two types, electrical and mechanical, and are disposed in the pilots compartmentand adjacent the hand crank receiver in the proximity of the engine compartment, but it is to be understood that this arrangement while at present preferred is illustrative only. Y

The pull cable 41 for effecting manual operation of the jaw meshing mechanism terminates in a loop or handle .95 accessible through the outer wall of the engine compartment adjacent the hand crank receiver Hi. When the cable is pulled the rocker arm 45 depresses the push rod 44 to extend the jaw clutch member 20. When the pull cable is released the push rod is returned by spring means carrying the member 20 back to retracted position.v I

The numeral I00 indicates a battery or other source of electrical supply: for. the starting. sys tem. The representation of "the. battery iniFige ure-2'is merely for thepurpose of completing certain circuit connections, and is not intended to illustrate a preferred physical disposition of the electrical power source. Referring now toFigure 5, one side of the battery circuit is'grounded at controllinga gcircuit lflfto a relay solenoid..,llJ8-.in.

afpower relay lfl9'in the circuit I03, llfllofith'e startingmotor l2: Plug connectorslil andJlZ are built into the motor and inertia starting units, respectively, the return sides of the circuits being completed to ground as shown.

A button H5 in the pilots compartment operates the flexible wire control 8| for the brush lifting mechanism on the motor.

Operation In the present arrangement it will be seen that only the inertia starter unit It! is subjected directly to engine vibration, the motor unit l2 being mounted on the bulkhead [3 or other structural part where the vibration is much less severe. Also, by thus separating the motor and starter units the motor may be disposed where it will least interfere with the numerous accessories associated with airplane power plants and the like, and at the same time reduce the clearance which would otherwise be required between the rear end of the engine crankshaft and the bulkhead I3.

Regardless of whether the inertia starter is energized by the hand crank or the electric motor the flexible shaft l l transmits the necessary torque to the starting unit I!) to accelerate the flywheel therein. The second flexible shaft 16 enables the hand crank receiver 14 to be located in an accessible position without the necessity for a straight line connection with the motor. In Figures 2, 3 and 4 the starting system of the present invention is applied to an airplane of the type having the engine behind the cockpit, or pilots compartment, but it is to be understood that this arrangement is shown for purposes of illustration only, since the present starting system may also be used on engines forward or laterally of the cockpit. It is also to be understood that the flexible shaft connections with the various units may be varied to best suit the particular installation. For instance, the radial connection of the flexible shaft l6 through the housing extension 63 may be readily changed to an axial connection by merely substituting interchangeable parts. Likewise, the power cable I I may be end connected instead of side connected. The flexible shaft and electrical connections are thereby adaptable to varied types of installations in addition to the specific embodiment illustrated.

To energize the inertia starter electrically the control button H is first pressed in, causin the motor brushes to be pressed against the commutator under spring action. Then, upon closing the switch l 05 the motor l2 will accelerate the inertia flywheel 33 to its proper operating speed. Closing of the switch I04 will energize the jaw meshing solenoid 5| to extend the jaw clutch member 20 to crank the engine. As long as the starter is delivering torque to the engine the friction between the jaw clutch member on the starter and the jaw clutch member on the engine will hold the two members in engagement but, when the engine The conductor I02 is connected,

fires, the memberlfl .isautomaticallyzreleasedffor return to its retracted position. If thGES'baI-Tt'BITLiSfT purely of the inertia atype :themotor switch .I 051sopenedwhen thej aw meshing switch-I 051s. closed;

- but if theastarter is of. the combination ,type;-ut ilizing both inertiaanddirect"cranking, the motor switch 105118 notyopeneduntil it is desired to ter-r.

minat rthe.crankingoperation.

When. the: engine is; to be started by hand" cranking, the motor brushes ,:are' firstilifted "by" pulling: outaithe button =l l5:- The portable hand" crank: andigear box are inserted in; the receiver ,1 4 r andthe crank is 'turnedirr thezproper direction to 5' spin the' .flywh'eel 33;.itbeingremembered that the; overrunning :clutch 64 Fprevents; crankingzthe fiywheel'im the. wrongdirection. When the desired flywheel speed is attained the engine may be cranked by pulling on the jaw meshing cable 41 to extend the jaw clutch member 20 into engagement with the engine. Once the jaw clutch members are properly engaged the cable 41 may be released and the engagement will be maintained by contact friction between the members until torque is no longer :being delivered to the engine. After the starting operation the hand crank and gear box may be removed from the receiver l4 and stowed in the airplane.

While the present starting system has especial utility in aircraft of both the heavier-than-air and lightert han-air types, it is also applicable to land and marine vehicles and to stationary engines as well. It is obvious that the switches I04, I05, and the control button I I5, herein illustrated as being mounted on a control panel I20 in the pilots compartment, may be located wherever the electrical and mechanical controls may be manipulated and that the hand crank receiver [4 may be located in the same compartment with said controls, orin another compartment, provided the distance from the motor l2 does not exceed the limitations of available flexible shafting.

Various other changes may be made in the arrangement, and certain parts of the system may be used without other parts. All such modifications and sub-combinations are included in the invention, it being understood that the same is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A starting system for an internal combustion engine in a vehicle comprising an inertia starter unit mounted on said engine, an electric motor mounted on said vehicle adjacent said starter unit so as to be subject to less Vibration than said starter unit, a flexible shaft drive connecting one end of said motor with said starter unit, an overrunning clutch incorporated in the other end of said motor and having its driven element connected with the motor shaft, a hand crank receiving unit mounted on said vehicle in an accessible position, and a flexible shaft drive connecting said crank receiving unit with the driving element of said clutch.

2. A starting system for an internal combustion engine in a vehicle comprising an inertia starter unit mounted on said engine, an electric motor mounted on said vehicle adjacent said starter unit so as to be subject to less vibration than said starter unit, a flexible shaft drive connecting one end of said motor with said starter unit, an overrunning clutch incorporated in the other end of said motor and having its driven element connected with the motor shaft, a hand crank receiving unit mounted on said vehicle in an accessible position, and a flexible shaft drive connecting said crank receiving unit through gearing with the shaft of said motor.

3. A starting system for an internal combustion engine in a vehicle comprising an inertia starter unit mounted on said engine, an electric motor mounted on said vehicle adjacent said starter unit so as to be subject to less vibration than said starter unit, a flexible shaft drive connecting one end of said motor with said starter unit, an overrunning clutch incorporated in the other end of said motor and having'its driven element connected with the motor shaft, 2, hand crank receiving unit mounted on said vehicle in an accessible position and a flexible shaft drive connecting said crank receiving unit with the driving element of said clutch and through said clutch and'gearing 8" connected to the driven element of said clutch to the shaft of said motor.

RALPH M. HEINTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS ,-Number Name Date 1,298,646 Berg Apr. 1, 1919 1,833,948 Lansing Dec. 1, 1931 1,962,963 Marcus June 12, 1934 2,095,236 Baer Oct. 12, 1937 15 2,097,729 Mall Nov. 2, 1937 2,110,469 Nardone Mar. 8, 1938 

